ARROW FIGHT
Meninga rules out bidding war for star Titan as rivals circle
TITANS culture and performance chief Mal Meninga says he will not engage in a bidding war for Jai Arrow as the Queensland Origin ace faces a $600,000 sacrifice to remain on the Gold Coast.
Wary of the $1 million-a-season investment in halfback Ash Taylor that has put pressure on the Titans’ salary cap, Meninga is being fiscally prudent in his strategy to retain Arrow in the face of cashed-up Sydney raids.
The pursuit of Arrow (pictured) is intensifying, with South Sydney to meet with his manager David Riolo to formally table a multimillion-dollar package worth up to $850,000 annually from 2021 onwards.
Rival clubs Cronulla, Wests Tigers, the Dragons and Newcastle are also watching the Arrow contract situation closely, with the 24year-old expected to finalise his future within the next fortnight.
“We can’t match what Sydney clubs are offering and the danger is if we get into a bidding war, it could cost us the opportunity to keep some other local kids,” Meninga said.
TITANS culture and performance chief Mal Meninga says he will not engage in a bidding war for Jai Arrow, as the Queensland State of Origin ace faces a $600,000 sacrifice to remain on the Gold Coast.
Wary of the $1 million-a-season investment in halfback Ash Taylor, which has put pressure on the Titans’ salary cap, Meninga is being fiscally prudent in his strategy to retain Arrow in the face of cashed-up Sydney raids.
The pursuit of Arrow is intensifying with South Sydney to meet his manager, David Riolo, to formally table a multimillion-dollar package worth up to $850,000 annually from 2021 onwards.
Rival clubs Cronulla, Wests Tigers, the Dragons and Newcastle are also interested.
The Titans are determined not to lose Arrow but Meninga is also mindful not to break the bank to retain the 24-year-old, as Gold Coast learns painful lessons from the $3 million deal in 2017 for Taylor, who has since struggled for form.
The Titans recently tabled a beefed-up offer to Arrow as evidence of his worth to the club, but the Maroons’ ironman could still earn an extra $150,000 per season in Sydney – a $600,000 bonanza over four years.
Off contract next year, Arrow is expected to finalise his future in the next fortnight and Meninga hopes the tough-tackling forward considers more than just his bank balance.
“I’ll be honest, the money for Jai is greater elsewhere,” Meninga said.
“I believe Jai wants to stay and we are working our way through it.
“Jai has mentioned several times he and Taylah are a team and they will do what’s best for them. Obviously we want Jai to stay, but we won’t be getting into a bidding war.”
Arrow is understood to be torn over his future.
He has family on the Gold Coast and is well aware the Titans have turned him into an Origin star after his struggles at the Broncos.
But Arrow also has a thirst for a premiership ring and sustained success, with the competitor in him left deeply disappointed with the Titans’ wooden-spoon finish last season.
Meninga is adamant Titans bosses have valued Arrow accurately in accordance with the salary cap pressures that confront every NRL club.
“We’ve offered Jai a deal until the end of 2024 and we feel it’s a good offer. He is already signed for 2020,” Meninga said.
“We can’t match what Sydney clubs are offering and the danger is if we get into a bidding war, it could cost us the opportunity to keep some other local kids. We have to manage our salary cap wisely.”